Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, stated that federal immigration agents have not arrested individuals on church grounds. However, Department of Homeland Security lawyers contradicted this in court documents, describing an arrest at a California church parking lot. This discrepancy highlights ongoing tensions between faith leaders and federal agents. Pastors, including Rev. Tanya Lopez, have filmed agents near their properties and filed lawsuits alleging religious freedom violations. While the White House maintains ICE does not target churches, DHS has acknowledged specific enforcement operations on church premises, fueling accusations of inconsistent government messaging.
Approximately 1,000 people are expected to attend the funeral of Pierre Damas Bel, a Haitian student from Springfield, Ohio, who died by suicide after being fitted with an ICE ankle monitor. His death has galvanized support for the local Haitian community, drawing discussion at a Senate forum and a John Legend-backed fundraiser that raised over $260,000. Despite this surge in sympathy, deportations continue and neo-Nazi groups have marched in the city. Activists report some changes in ICE monitoring tactics, but many Haitians remain anxious as they navigate immigration court proceedings amid increased community stress and political debate.
Israeli settlers in the West Bank illegally diverted water from a natural spring near the Palestinian village of Fasayil to fill an ancient pool, declaring it a tourist attraction linked to King Herod. COGAT, Israel’s military civil affairs body, acknowledged the unauthorized diversion and promised an investigation. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu praised the act and allocated funds to rehabilitate the site, despite research indicating the land is privately owned by Palestinians. This incident reflects a broader pattern of settler violence and water seizures in the region, which the UN reports has damaged hundreds of Palestinian water structures in 2026, severely impacting local agriculture and tourism.
The U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal appeals court to reverse a lower court ruling that upheld the Johnson Amendment. This law prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including churches, from endorsing political candidates. DOJ lawyers argued that the church autonomy doctrine prevents civil courts from enforcing the ban. The case stems from a challenge by Texas churches and the National Religious Broadcasters against the IRS. A district judge previously dismissed their lawsuit, citing lack of jurisdiction and harm. The DOJ now contends the IRS lacks authority to restrict pastoral speech. This development highlights ongoing tensions between religious groups and federal tax regulations regarding political activity.
The Trump administration notified Congress on September 22 that it plans to admit only 17,500 refugees next year, primarily targeting white South Africans. This marks the second consecutive year with historically low admissions and excludes refugees fleeing religious persecution, such as Iranians and Iraqis. Faith-based groups like HIAS and Global Refuge expressed outrage, calling the policy discriminatory and illegal. Several organizations are suing the government to enforce congressional mandates for special humanitarian concerns. The White House defends the focus on Afrikaners, claiming they face persecution, a view rejected by the South African government. Critics argue this approach abandons vulnerable families and undermines U.S. humanitarian leadership.
A federal judge in Tennessee dismissed most claims in a lawsuit filed by former Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor David Sills against SBC leaders. The ruling, issued on September 29, removed negligence and conspiracy charges against several executives but allowed defamation claims against Guidepost Solutions and seminary president Al Mohler to proceed. The judge ordered a settlement conference to resolve remaining disputes. Sills, who lost his job in 2018 following abuse allegations from Jennifer Lyell, admitted to misconduct but disputed the abuse label. SBC President Willy Rice declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. (Source: Religion News Service)
Brooke Covington, a leader of the Word of Faith Fellowship in North Carolina, received two years of probation following a plea deal that dismissed a felony kidnapping charge. The agreement resolves a case stemming from a 2013 incident where members allegedly assaulted Matthew Fenner during a prayer session. Covington pleaded to misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment and simple assault, with jail time suspended pending probation completion. The legal proceedings were delayed for over nine years due to a mistrial, prosecutorial disputes, and personnel changes. The secretive religious group has consistently denied allegations of abuse, claiming the accusations are targeted efforts by former members.
The city of Dearborn, Michigan, issued a statement defending itself against a federal lawsuit filed by journalist Margot Cleveland. The suit alleges the city and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud spent public funds on Muslim holiday displays while ignoring Christian and Jewish observances. The city attributes these legal challenges to its diversity and welcoming nature, asserting its commitment to equal treatment for all residents. The lawsuit seeks damages and constitutional compliance, citing specific expenditures for Ramadan symbols and contrasting them with a lack of similar recognition for Easter and Passover. This dispute follows previous tensions between the mayor and local pastor Ted Barham.
President Donald Trump has nominated Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, to serve as the U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom. The White House announced the nomination on Monday. Lynch, who serves as a senior adviser for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, expressed honor at the prospect of the role. The nomination has drawn mixed reactions. The Family Research Council praised the selection, while the Freedom from Religion Foundation criticized Lynch’s past comments regarding Muslim communities. If confirmed by the Senate, she would fill a position vacant since the start of the second Trump administration. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom welcomed the appointment.
Religion News Service reports that dozens of faith organizations and leaders have filed at least 21 lawsuits challenging President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement actions. The plaintiffs, representing eight major religious traditions including Catholicism, mainline Protestantism, and Judaism, argue that federal policies violate their religious freedom rights. Key complaints include restrictions on ministering to detained immigrants and the rescission of protections for sensitive locations like churches. Experts note a shift in legal strategy, with liberal-leaning groups increasingly using the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to contest the administration’s mass deportation efforts and refugee program changes.
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Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Jan Canty on UnsplashPersecuted church
Since August 2025, Rev. Esdras Paredes has led his Wisconsin congregation remotely after being barred from re-entering the United States. The ban stems from a 1991 deportation order that resurfaced when he applied for a visa in Guatemala. Paredes, who pastors Ven y Descansarás in Fond du Lac, now preaches online and manages church affairs from abroad. His wife, Rev. Wanda Paredes, remains in the U.S. with their family. The situation highlights broader issues facing immigrant clergy, with reports of at least 25 similar cases during the current administration. The congregation has faced financial strain and emotional distress due to the separation.
Fifty Hispanic Pentecostal bishops and denominational leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., on September 8, urging the Trump administration to extend Temporary Protected Status for approximately 170,000 Salvadoran immigrants. The group, organized by the Confraternity of Pentecostal Entities of the Americas, argues that current enforcement policies harm hardworking families and church members. Leaders cited biblical mandates for dignity and reported numerous detentions within their congregations. They also called for the restoration of TPS for Haitians. The coalition emphasized unity among previously fragmented denominations to advocate for due process and protection for immigrants contributing to U.S. communities.
In Uganda and South Sudan, traditional rainmakers face increasing violence from farming communities when weather patterns fail or cause floods. In eastern Uganda, David Nabutsilili was beaten after excessive rain flooded crops, while in South Sudan, at least two rainmakers were killed in recent years due to drought. The Associated Press reports that erratic climate change has heightened expectations, leading to assaults or killings when rituals do not yield desired results. Farmers blame these spiritual leaders for crop failures, despite the complex nature of weather. The quid pro quo payment system often fuels conflict when refunds are denied after perceived failures.
The far-right Alternative for Germany party secured nearly 44 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, becoming the state’s largest political force. This result places the party within three seats of a governing majority, according to Religion News Service. Despite strong opposition from Catholic and Protestant churches, the nationalist movement gained significant ground. The victory highlights a shift in a region with deep religious history but also facing economic decline and low civic engagement. The outcome has sparked concern among moderate politicians about the broader implications for Germany and the European Union.
Christian advocacy organizations launched a petition in a city in Texas, seeking 100,000 signatures before U.S. and Chinese leaders meet. The campaign urges American officials to advocate for the return of a pastor detained in China since 2017. Although released from prison recently, authorities have withheld his passport, preventing his reunion with his family in the United States. The pastor, who resides in a city in central China, is battling stage 4 cancer. The groups describe the effort as a humanitarian plea to secure his travel documents and allow him to return home. (Religion News Service)
In Germany, right-wing Christian influencers known as Christfluencers are building networks with the US religious right to support the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Figures like Tobias Riemenschneider and Leonard Jäger use social media to promote conservative views, often mirroring strategies used by American conservative activists. This alliance gained attention when Jäger met Donald Trump and interviewed AfD leader Alice Weidel. Despite criticism regarding antisemitism and extremist ties within the AfD, these influencers argue they face persecution from progressive political groups. Their content strategy aims to validate far-right messages by connecting with dissident church leaders, following a model observed in US politics.
The Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation are demanding the removal of Sarah Lucas and her Foundations for Nations Church. This conflict began after Lucas labeled Arapaho sundance ceremonies as idol worship in a July sermon. Tribal Chairman Keenan Groesbeck stated that elders no longer want Lucas on the reservation. Although Lucas owns the private land where the church sits, the tribes passed ordinances requiring approval for religious groups. Lucas argues her actions are protected by religious freedom, while many Native residents view her rhetoric as harmful and reminiscent of past assimilation efforts. The standoff highlights tensions between tribal sovereignty and individual property rights.
Minnesota churches are involved in two significant legal disputes stemming from recent immigration enforcement actions. In Minneapolis, University Baptist Church and allied groups seek reprimands against federal agents for conducting undercover surveillance during protest meetings, arguing this violated sanctuary protections. Separately, in St. Paul, over thirty protesters, including former CNN journalist Don Lemon, face charges for disrupting a worship service at Cities Church, where a pastor also worked for ICE. These cases highlight the ongoing tension between faith communities and federal authorities regarding the sanctity of religious spaces and the right to protest immigration policies. The outcomes may influence how churches provide sanctuary and safety for migrants nationwide.
Religion News Service published a weekly photo selection highlighting two distinct events in the United States. The images depict Orthodox Christian youth gathering together. Additionally, the collection includes visuals related to Pentecostal community pushback against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The outlet presents these photographs to illustrate current activities and reactions within these specific religious groups. The summary covers the visual documentation of these gatherings and the stance taken by the Pentecostal group regarding federal immigration actions.
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